DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 06/05/2020    Duedate: 06/18/2020

NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA

DM 93    TURN 558

This Week's Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

FERAL
FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)
(93-10350) [4-1-1,56]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

POSITION IS EMPTY              FERAL
                               FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)
                               (93-10350) [4-1-1,56]

Popularity Leader              This Week's Favorite

CRACKED                        PLUTO
BASH BROS DISHES (1764)        FINAL FRONTIER (1784)
(93-10317) [5-2-0,49]          (93-10427) [2-2-0,18]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. MAGIC THE DUEL (1790)         39 
2. FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)         37    DARK TOADS II (725)
3. FAMOUS PETS (1765)            28    Unchartered Team
4. THE EBON BLADES (1791)        23 
5. BASH BROS DISHES (1764)       19    FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1*FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)     19   6  2 76.0   1/ 1*FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)    11  4 1
 2/ 8*MAGIC THE DUEL (1790)      6   4  1 60.0   2/ 2*FAMOUS PETS (1765)       11  4 0
 3/ 3*FAMOUS PETS (1765)        20  15  0 57.1   3/ 3*BASH BROS DISHES (1764)   8  7 0
 4/ 2*BASH BROS DISHES (1764)   19  16  1 54.3   4/ 8*MAGIC THE DUEL (1790)     6  4 1
 5/ 4*MACABRE MARAUDERS (1788)  11  12  0 47.8   5/ 5*MACABRE MARAUDERS (1788)  6  8 0
 6- 7*THE HAIRY BUNCH (1789)     4   5  0 44.4   6/ 7*MERCENARIES (1766)        5  4 0
 7/ 6*MERCENARIES (1766)         6   8  0 42.9   7/ 4*FINAL FRONTIER (1784)     5 10 0
 8/ 0*THE EBON BLADES (1791)     2   3  0 40.0   8- 6*THE HAIRY BUNCH (1789)    4  5 0
 9/ 5*FINAL FRONTIER (1784)      7  13  1 35.0   9/ 0*THE EBON BLADES (1791)    2  3 0
10- 9*LOLPERLOL (1787)           2   8  0 20.0  10- 9*LOLPERLOL (1787)          2  8 0
11-10*SMOL FLAME (1786)          0   1  0  0.0  11-10*SMOL FLAME (1786)         0  1 0

    '*'   Unchartered team                       '-'  Team did not fight this turn
   (###)  Avoid teams by their Team Id          ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

     I could feel my eyes blinking and struggling against the bright light. My body 
was laid out on a cold stone slab, perhaps in a forest near my old home??? I was at a 
loss for any memory as to how I ended up where I was. Then silently....almost too 
quiet to be heard, a female voice entered my mind. "Thraxus....wake up Thraxus...this 
world is not done with you yet."
     Like a tidal wave the memories shot back at me. I had just been hired to manage a 
stable of warriors in the Noblish Island arena. I remember reporting to the financier, 
working out the details and then leaving his office. It was then when everything went 
black! 
     "Yes Thraxus, you were attacked and left for dead." The woman's voice was louder 
now and I managed to pull myself off the slab to try to look around. "Don't be too 
quick to move, you were near death and it took all my skill to keep you alive." 
     I now got a look at the woman, very old and hunched over. She was dressed like a 
wild woman in tattered furs and rags. "Yes, yes Thraxus I am old and well past my time 
in this world." I sat back down as she motioned me to do.
     "I am not one for words so let me get to the point. The man who attacked you was 
the man who lost out on the managers job you acquired. He thought to kill you and thus 
get your job. I don't know his name. Yet I do know this.....he is the one that killed 
my family and dumped us in these woods just as he did you. Only this time he had no 
clue I would find you and keep you alive." 
     With renewed vigor I jumped to my feet and embraced the old hag. "Thank you very 
much for your help and now I must get back to the arena as my team, The Ebon Blades, 
were set to fight soon." 
     I started to run off in the direction of the city and heard her voice one last 
time. "If you find the man that did this to you and me, bring him back to this spot 
and I will have a very special gift for him!" As I ran I yelled back a promise that if 
the man could be found I would bring him back. As I exited the forest and gazed upon 
the city I could hear the old hag laughing and tell me be sure I hold to that promise. 
     Was not long before I made my way back to the arena and was greeted by the team, 
but no sign of my attacker. Finding him will have to wait...the sands of Noblish 
Island are calling for me.  

                                      SPY REPORT

     Welcome NOBLISH ISLAND.  I, Olaf Modeen remember this place well.  Many the 
fights have I fought here.  The celebrations, the disappointments...  Ya gotta be 
quick on yer feet!  Keep your elbow off the table!  Thrust!  Block out the pain!  
MAGIC THE DUEL is now ranked 4th with a 4-1-1 turn.  It seems so recently people were 
saying FAMOUS PETS was washed up, finished.  But 4-1-0 moved them up 0.  I guess 
they're washed no more...  What's with KITSUNE?  She actually beat NOBLISH ISLAND's 
DANGEROUS CRIMINAL, and walked away with 18 more points from the fight.  Laughs were 
big at FOX FORCE FIVE while they watched FERAL clobber THE RAVEN.  He lost 6 points 
and got bruised from objects thrown from the stands.  NOBLISH ISLAND, set your sights 
on VENEMOUS CONCUBINE.  He'll be happy to entertain all requests after defeating 
CLEANING.  FERAL looked pretty Duelmasterlike as she took NOBLISH ISLAND's top spot 
with 56 points.  Now, what will CLEANING do?  I suppose you want to hear some rumors 
and dirty gossip about your fellow fighters?  Tough!   
     If at first you don't succeed, avoid.  That'll get you in the Spyreports.  The 
most avoided team was MACABRE MARAUDERS.  In my day, no team with a 9-9-0 would scare 
me off!  What's the problem, FINAL FRONTIER?  What do people see in CRACKED?  His 
5-2-0?  BASH BROS DISHES ain't talkin', but he's got 49 points.   
     There have been some calls to lengthen the time limit.  Do you want the fighters 
to walk away, or not?  Here's some advice:  study your opponent, master many skills, 
fight dirty.   
     Who knows what the future holds for a warrior.  More fights, there's no doubt.  
NOBLISH ISLAND is a nice place to live, but I don't like to live in nice places.  I 
don't want to overstay my welcome...-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 FERAL 10350                   4   1  1  56         FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)     

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 KITSUNE 10347                 5   0  1  53         FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)     
 CLEANING 10316                5   2  1  50         BASH BROS DISHES (1764)   
 CRACKED 10317                 5   2  0  49         BASH BROS DISHES (1764)   
 SHAMU 10321                   6   1  0  42         FAMOUS PETS (1765)        
 FENNEC 10351                  3   2  0  36         FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)     

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VIXEN 10346                   3   2  0  31         FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)     
 KUMIKO 10348                  4   1  0  29         FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)     
 THE RAVEN 10452               4   1  0  29         MACABRE MARAUDERS (1788)  
 MR. ED 10325                  4   3  0  27         FAMOUS PETS (1765)        
 RIKKI-TIKKI-TAVI 10447        2   3  0  25         FAMOUS PETS (1765)        

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LASSIE 10324                  3   4  0  23         FAMOUS PETS (1765)        
-YONDARR 10444                 2   0  0  20         LOLPERLOL (1787)          
 GENGHIS KANE 2 10459          2   0  0  19         MAGIC THE DUEL (1790)     
 PLUTO 10427                   2   2  0  18         FINAL FRONTIER (1784)     
 UNMATCHED 10319               2   5  0  18         BASH BROS DISHES (1764)   
 VENUS 10426                   2   2  0  18         FINAL FRONTIER (1784)     
 RED DAWN 10328                3   0  0  16         MERCENARIES (1766)        
 THEBE 10429                   2   2  0  16         FINAL FRONTIER (1784)     
 PUNXSATAWNY PHIL 10323        4   3  0  15         FAMOUS PETS (1765)        
 BLACK LUNG 1 10460            1   1  0  15         MAGIC THE DUEL (1790)     
 SANDRA 10467                  1   0  0  15         THE EBON BLADES (1791)    
 DR JEKYL 10476                2   0  0  14         MACABRE MARAUDERS (1788)  
 GENGHIS KANE 10462            1   1  1  13         MAGIC THE DUEL (1790)     
 SWEENEY TODD 10449            2   3  0  12         MACABRE MARAUDERS (1788)  
 SATURN 10428                  0   4  0  12         FINAL FRONTIER (1784)     
 DISCONTINUED 10320            2   5  0  11         BASH BROS DISHES (1764)   
 FLASH DANCER 1 10463          1   1  0  11         MAGIC THE DUEL (1790)     
-FISHY 10457                   1   0  0  11         THE HAIRY BUNCH (1789)    
 BRUTUS 10326                  2   1  0  10         MERCENARIES (1766)        
 GRIM REAVER 10448             2   3  0   9         MACABRE MARAUDERS (1788)  
-B BETTY 10453                 1   1  0   9         THE HAIRY BUNCH (1789)    
 JUPITER 10458                 1   3  1   7         FINAL FRONTIER (1784)     
 MR HYDE 10451                 1   4  0   7         MACABRE MARAUDERS (1788)  
 BIG BERTHA 1 10461            1   1  0   6         MAGIC THE DUEL (1790)     
-DOLLY 10454                   1   1  0   5         THE HAIRY BUNCH (1789)    
 RICHARDS 10327                1   2  0   5         MERCENARIES (1766)        
 SASHA 10465                   1   0  0   5         THE EBON BLADES (1791)    
 DIRTY 10464                   1   1  0   4         BASH BROS DISHES (1764)   
-ANT MAN 10456                 1   1  0   4         THE HAIRY BUNCH (1789)    
-MILLY JONES 10437             0   1  0   3         SMOL FLAME (1786)         
-SHE RA 10455                  0   2  0   2         THE HAIRY BUNCH (1789)    
-SAD SIRI 10443                0   2  0   2         LOLPERLOL (1787)          
-SAREPH 10445                  0   2  0   2         LOLPERLOL (1787)          
-SAREN 10446                   0   2  0   2         LOLPERLOL (1787)          
-JARETT 10442                  0   2  0   2         LOLPERLOL (1787)          
 TREE 10475                    0   1  0   1         MERCENARIES (1766)        
 JORGEN 10469                  0   1  0   1         THE EBON BLADES (1791)    
 THORVALD 10466                0   1  0   1         THE EBON BLADES (1791)    
 OLAV 10468                    0   1  0   1         THE EBON BLADES (1791)    

'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
BROKEN 10318            4  1 0 BASH BROS DISHE 1764 FERAL 10350           556   
DR JEKYLL 10450         0  1 0 MACABRE MARAUDE 1788 KITSUNE 10347         554  NOT REVENGED

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
BLADES 10329            0  1 0 MERCENARIES 1766     JUPITER 10458         555   
PERCY 10330             0  3 0 MERCENARIES 1766     GENGHIS KANE 10462    558   

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Thebe -- Nevermore. -- The Raven.

Fennec -- And to think I was bested by a fox.  Pshaw. -- Sweeney Todd

Seems this arena is overcome by creatures these days.  Did the zoo have an escape? 

Assur! What an awful thing to say! I feel I must report you to the ASPCA. So sad. -- 
Whisperer

Assur, would you feel better knowing round six was a tie? No? O.K. I then shall claim 
victory. -- Whisperer

All, great fighting. Keep up the good work. -- Whisperer

Whisperer, I could take a little credit, here, you know? After all I am the leading 
pet. -- Shamu

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

KUMIKO was devastated by CRACKED in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
MR. ED luckily beat PLUTO in a exciting 7 minute Challenge melee.
PUNXSATAWNY PHIL was overpowered by FENNEC in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge duel.
BIG BERTHA 1 outwaited MR HYDE in a monotonous 18 minute novice's Challenge fight.
BLACK LUNG 1 devastated DIRTY in a crowd pleasing 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
GENGHIS KANE 2 overpowered SATURN in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl.
GENGHIS KANE assassinated PERCY in a 1 minute uneven Challenge melee.
FLASH DANCER 1 slimly lost to LASSIE in a 2 minute Challenge duel.
CLEANING lost to VENEMOUS CONCUBINE in a 1 minute fight.
FERAL vanquished THE RAVEN in a 1 minute one-sided Title duel.
KITSUNE overpowered DANGEROUS CRIMINAL in a 1 minute uneven match.
SHAMU overpowered VENUS in a exciting 1 minute one-sided fight.
VIXEN viciously subdued THEBE in a crowd pleasing 1 minute brutal conflict.
RIKKI-TIKKI-TAVI demolished DISCONTINUED in a 1 minute one-sided brawl.
UNMATCHED overcame RICHARDS in a 2 minute conflict.
RED DAWN defeated THORVALD in a 1 minute novice's duel.
GRIM REAVER was devastated by SANDRA in a 1 minute uneven duel.
SWEENEY TODD savagely defeated JUPITER in a crowd pleasing 1 minute amateur's brawl.
BRUTUS beat JORGEN in a exciting 1 minute novice's match.
DR JEKYL overpowered OLAV in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
TREE slimly lost to SASHA in a popular 8 minute gruesome novice's contest.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK                  9         WALL OF STEEL      8 -   3 -  0      73  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   9         AIMED BLOW        18 -   8 -  0      69  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  5         SLASHING ATTACK   15 -   8 -  2      65  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   5         PARRY-STRIKE       3 -   2 -  0      60  |
|AIMED BLOW                       3         LUNGING ATTACK    15 -  12 -  1      56  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     3         TOTAL PARRY       10 -  10 -  0      50  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      3         STRIKING ATTACK   27 -  30 -  1      47  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    2         BASHING ATTACK    16 -  27 -  1      37  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -   5 -  0       0  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         PARRY-LUNGE        0 -   0 -  0       0  |

Turn 558 was great if you     Not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

SLASHING ATTACK    4 -  1     STRIKING ATTACK    4 -  5         3  STRIKING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW         2 -  1     BASHING ATTACK     2 -  7         2  SLASHING ATTACK
PARRY-STRIKE       2 -  1     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  0         2  LUNGING ATTACK 
TOTAL PARRY        2 -  1     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  1         2  AIMED BLOW     
LUNGING ATTACK     3 -  2                                       1  BASHING ATTACK 
WALL OF STEEL      1 -  1                                       1  TOTAL PARRY    

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
BASHING ATTACK   FERAL 10350                 4   1  1   56 FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)
SLASHING ATTACK  KITSUNE 10347               5   0  1   53 FOX FORCE FIVE (1770)
STRIKING ATTACK  CLEANING 10316              5   2  1   50 BASH BROS DISHES (1764)
LUNGING ATTACK   CRACKED 10317               5   2  0   49 BASH BROS DISHES (1764)
AIMED BLOW       SHAMU 10321                 6   1  0   42 FAMOUS PETS (1765)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is CRACKED 10317.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was PLUTO 10427.  The ten other most popular fighters were TREE 10475, UNMATCHED 
10319, CRACKED 10317, BLACK LUNG 1 10460, VIXEN 10346, SWEENEY TODD 10449, FENNEC 
10351, LASSIE 10324, FERAL 10350, and SHAMU 10321.

The least popular fighter this week was MR HYDE 10451.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were BIG BERTHA 1 10461, SASHA 10465, OLAV 10468, JUPITER 10458, SANDRA 
10467, GRIM REAVER 10448, DISCONTINUED 10320, THEBE 10429, THE RAVEN 10452, and PERCY 
10330.

                                 RSI PANDEMIC UPDATE

We're doing okay out here in Arizona, staying mostly quiet and trying to stay healthy, 
and we hope you and your families are well.  Things are super weird right now.   
Here's a quick update on what's coming up: 

Summer 2020 Face-to-Face:  In case there is any lingering doubt, the 2020 summer face-
to-face is cancelled.  It just doesn't seem wise to hold it, and feedback is that most 
of you would not be able to attend.  Better to stay safe and stay at home, this time.  

Summer 2020 Mail-In:  So we'll hold a mail-in tournament this summer.  It will be held 
on the weekend of July 17-19, 2020.  We are still finalizing the format--look for the 
tournament announcement shortly after the freeze on June 6th. 

Halloween 2020 Mail-In:  Should be able to take place as normal.  We bandied about the 
idea of having a Fall FTF, but that doesn't look like a good idea.  

Winter 2021 Face-to-Face:  We have already secured a contract for the Winter FTF in 
Tempe for our usual Martin Luther King weekend, January 15-17, 2021 and are crossing 
our fingers that we will be able to hold that tournament in person, but there is still 
some chance that we will need to cancel it as well.  I expect we will know for certain 
in November or December.  Please mark it on your calendars and feel free to get hotel 
reservations, but don't buy non-refundable plane tickets!  (We are waiting for the 
group code for reservations and will post it when we get it.) 

Summer 2021 Face-to-Face:  Surely we'll be able to have this one! *crossed fingers*  
We're looking at the midwest cities for this one (Cincinnati or Minneapolis), so stay 
tuned.

                         * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                            THE BLOODGAMES HAVE RETURNED! 

For those of you who always wanted the chance to manage the last warrior standing 
alive upon the arena sands, your day has come.  At the end of the ten turns, even 
though several warriors, bruised and scarred, MAY yet live, only three will be crowned 
Bloodgames Champions and be invited to the Isle of the Eye!  And in this game mere 
survival counts for little.  A great general once said, "The object of battle is not 
to die for your cause, but to make your enemy die for his."  This general would have 
greatly enjoyed the Duelmasters Bloodgames!  

By popular demand, we will hold THREE Bloodgames arenas -- a regular and slow 
Bloodgames by mail, and a Bloodgames which will run with the mail-in tourney!  

    DM 95:  slow bloodgames (due every four weeks, due July 20)  
    DM 98:  regular speed bloodgames (due every two weeks, due July 20) 
    DM 99:  mail-in style bloodgames (processed with the tourney, due July 15)

Gameplay in the Bloodgames proceeds according to standard DM rules, except for a few 
notable exceptions: 

* STARTING A BLOODGAMES TEAM -- You don't need a special rollup to enter the 
bloodgames.  Your Bloodgames team is ten warriors, one of each fighting style, each 
warrior designed from scratch!  (All are 84 points, 3-21, as usual.)  Simply list your 
ten warriors and send them to us; we will send you back overviews of your warriors so 
you can submit strategies.  The first turn is due mid-July and subsequent turns will 
be due on Mondays.  

* DEATH -- As the name implies, the Bloodgames will leave the arena sands somewhat 
darker before they're over.  It's a dangerous sport intended only for the tough and 
spirited.  The Arenamaster will be less likely to intercede on behalf of a dying 
warrior.  Even at a 1 kill desire, kill attempts will occur.  There are no 
replacements -- once a warrior dies, that's it!  

* STRATEGIES AND CHALLENGES -- New strategies may be issued for each turn for the 
regular and slow bloodgames, while the mail-in bloodgames will process all ten rounds 
with a single strategy.  The only type of challenge available is a bloodfeud.  

* MISSED TURNS -- All warriors fight each round.  Only the dead may rest.

* ERRORS -- If we make an input error, that warrior will be awarded a win and kill.  
Errors must be reported before the next turn processes.  

* NEWSLETTER -- Warriors are ranked according to their number of kills.  Bloodgames 
Champions may write a column for the newsletter at the end of the games. 

* AWARDS -- The Bloodgames last ten rounds.  The top three living warriors with the 
greatest number of kills, only one of each style, are deemed Bloodgames Champions.  
Win/loss records and, if necessary, recognition points will only be used to determine 
awards if there is a tie.  All three Bloodgames Champions fight for free for six 
months and can issue one Tournament Victor challenge each turn, allowing them to 
challenge with increased priority, also for six months. 

* FEES -- A Bloodgames rollup costs a $10 set-up fee.  Managers may roll up additional 
teams but may fight only one team in each arena.  The fee is $49 for all 10 rounds. 

* AFTERMATH -- Warriors from the Bloodgames may not transfer to any other arena.  Once 
the games are over, the arena and teams will be disbanded.  The fighters have won 
their freedom and will never more be seen in the gladiatorial games.  A special bonus 
will, however, be awarded to the Bloodgames Champions:  Lady Sheila Greywand, of the 
Isle of the Eye, has consented to allow the top three gladiators in each Bloodgames 
admission to the Advanced Duelmasters games.  Any special training required to qualify 
those three warriors for Advanced Duelmasters combat will be conducted before transfer 
into ADM.  Astute managers will note that this means that three warriors that are 
designed from scratch will survive the Bloodgames, win one of the top three places, 
and go on to immortal glory!  One of those warriors could be yours!

         The challenge is yours to take.  The final plans are yours to make.  
          When the dust settles, remember:  To the victor goes the spoils!